Hair styling device with textured surface

ABSTRACT

A hair styling device comprising a heatable surface having a body, and a heater supported by the body, which heats the heatable surface. The heatable surface is on the body for heating and styling hair, and comprises at least one textured portion having projections with recesses between the projections. The projections are sufficiently close together that when the textured portion is wetted with water, the recesses are not wetted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/384,110 titled “Hair Styling Device With Textured Surface,” filed Sep. 6, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Many people desire styled hair. However, many hair styling devices are used with a high amount of heat. Users of the heated styling devices often use the products frequently, even daily, and the frequent use of high heat can damage hair. Once hair becomes damaged, the user may need to cut the damaged part of their hair off, which is undesirable.

A current method used to reduce the amount of damage to hair is to reduce heat transfer from the hair styling device to the hair by coating the heating elements of the hair styling device in paint containing ceramic powder, tourmaline crystal powder or titanium powder. This coating can make the metal heating element smoother than if it was left uncoated. Because it is smoother, the heatable surface is prevented from snagging the hair as the hair is pulled through or across the styling device, resulting in less damage to the hair. However, even with a coating, the direct heat transfer from the heatable surfaces of the device remains high, which can result in damage to the user's hair, and particularly the outer layer. Consequently, there is a need for heated hair styling devices that do not damage hair.

SUMMARY

The present invention satisfies this need by incorporating a texture into a heatable surface of a heated hair styling device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a body, and a heater supported by the body, which heats one or more heatable surfaces. The heatable surface is on the body for heating and styling the hair, and comprises at least one textured portion having projections with recesses between the projections. Preferably, the projections are sufficiently close together that when the textured portion is wetted with water, the recesses are not wetted. For example, the projections can be sufficiently close together so that hair having a diameter greater than about 0.005 millimeters cannot fit between the projections. The recesses can be up to about 0.005 millimeters wide, or can be from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters wide as measured from the bottom of one projection to the bottom of a second projection. The projections can be from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters wide. The projections can be from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters apart as measured from the bottom of one projection to the bottom of a second projection. It is also contemplated that the projections can be from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters in height as measured from the bottom of the projection to the top of the projection. The recesses and projections can be uniformly spaced apart on the heatable surface.

Substantially the entire heatable surface can be textured or only portions textured. Also, the device can have first and second textured portions, in which the projections of the first textured portion can be closer together than the projections of the second textured portion. In one aspect, the projections of the first textured portion can be a different size than the projections of the second textured portion. Also, the entire heatable surface need not be textured.

The hair styling device can be any hair styling device in which hair contacts a heatable surface, such as a flat iron or a curling iron. The hair styling device can have a first arm and a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm at a hinge. One or both of the arms can have a styling portion including a heatable surface, where the heatable surface has the aforementioned texture.

The textured portion can be formed of a metal such as aluminum, and optionally can contain a coating on the heatable surface. The coating can be a paint, urethane, lacquer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or polyphenylene sulfide. It is contemplated that the coating is applied to the heatable surface at about a 0.03 mm thickness.

Alternatively, the textured portion can be mesh such as metal, plastic, or fabric such as silk.

The fabric can be a weaved fabric comprising a warp and a weft, wherein the distance between the warp and the weft of the weaved fabric is from about 0.005 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters. In one version, the fabric can be attached to the heatable surface chemically, thermally, or mechanically. In another version, the fabric can have a coating on the surface of the fabric.

The invention also provides methods for using the hair styling devices described above. The device can be used by activating the heater to heat the heatable surface, grasping the device, and placing the person's hair on at least one textured portion, thereby styling the person's hair.

With this invention, because a user's hair is not directly contacted with the surface between the projections it is insulated from the hottest portion of the heatable surface and is principally indirectly heated, thereby reducing damage to the hair as compared to conventional hair styling devices. Elimination of direct contact of the hair with the surface of the hair styling device results in elimination of damage to the hair shaft.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary hair styling device having features of the present invention in an open position.

FIGS. 2A-2D are expanded top plan views of hair styling devices of the type shown in FIG. 1 in the region 2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a second exemplary hair styling device of the present invention in an open position.

FIGS. 5A-5D are expanded top plan views of hair styling devices of the type shown in FIG. 4 in the region 5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device of the type shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5A.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to hair styling devices capable of styling hair with reduced damage to the hair compared to conventional hair styling devices, and a method for doing the same.

As used herein, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings given below, unless a different meaning is clearly intended by the contest in which such term is used.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” and similar referents used herein are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless their usage in context indicates otherwise.

As used in this disclosure, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers ingredients or steps.

As used herein, “textured portion” means a surface on a portion of the device that is not smooth.

All dimensions specified in this disclosure are by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting. Further, the proportions shown in these Figures are not necessarily to scale. As will be understood by those with skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, the actual dimensions and proportions of any system, any device or part of a device disclosed in this disclosure will be determined by its intended use.

With regard to exemplary embodiments of this invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a hair styling device 100, 200 has at least one heatable surface 106, 206 with a textured portion 107, 207. Exemplary hair styling devices include, but are not limited to, flat irons, curling irons, styling arms, rotating irons such as the InStyler® rotating iron, and crimping irons. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the hair styling device 100, 200 comprises a body 102, 202, the heatable surface 106, 206 on the body 102, 202, and a heater 104, 204 supported by the body 102, 202 for heating the heatable surface 106, 206.

The heater 104, 204 can be coupled to an electrical cord 112, 212 which allows the hair styling device 100, 200 to connect to an electricity source in order to draw the electricity necessary to operate. The heater can be battery powered instead of using an external power source, or can use a battery as a backup to an external power source.

The heatable surface 106, 206 has at least one textured portion 107, 207 comprising projections 108, 208 with recesses 110, 210 between the projections 108, 208 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6.

The heatable surface 106, 206 is made of conventional materials used for hair styling devices that can be heated and are heat conductive, such as, for example, metal (such as aluminum or steel) ceramic, and thermosetting polymers, which can contain a heat conductive filler.

The textured portion 107, 207 can be made up of the same material or a different material as used for the heatable surface 106, 206. The textured portion 107, 207 can be made out of any heat resistant and heat conductive materials such as, for example, metal or ceramic, thermosetting and high temperature polymers, elastomeric material such as, for example, silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomeric rubber, thermoplastic rubber, polypropylene, or combinations thereof. The textured portion can also be made out of materials such as polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, polyethylene (such as LLDPE and LDPE), ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene glycol-terephthalate copolymer, polyvinyl halide-based resin (such as polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene chloride); homopolymer (such as halogenated polyethylene, halogenated polypropylene); and copolymer (such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-propylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-styrene copolymer, vinyl chloride-isobutylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride-styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, vinyl chloride-butadiene copolymer, vinyl chloride-chlorinated propylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-maleate copolymer, vinyl chloride-methacrylate copolymer, vinyl chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-butene copolymer, ethylene-pentene copolymer, ethylene-hexene copolymer, ethylene-heptene copolymer, ethylene-octene copolymer, ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene/1-butene copolymer, ethylene/4-methyl-1-penetene copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, and ethylene-methacrylate copolymer, high temperature paint such as, for example, enamel, acrylic paint, a polyurethane paint, lacquer, urethane, polyester, nylon, polyphenylene sulfide, amino resin paint and combinations thereof.

The textured portion 107, 207 can also be made out of fabric, ceramic woven into fabric, or glass fiber cloth. The fabric is able to withstand heat, and contains a weave for creating projections with recesses in between the projections. The weave of the fabric can be made up of warp threads 120, 220 and weft threads 122, 222 as shown in FIGS. 2D and 5D. It is contemplated that the distance between the intersection of the warp and the weft of the weave is from about 0.005 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters.

One such type of fabric is silk, which can be obtained as a 2116 electronic grade, alkali free glass fiber cloth. The material is approximately 0.1 millimeters thick and contains 47 threads per square centimeter.

Alternatively, the textured portion 107, 207 can be made out of mesh such as mesh netting made out of metal or any thermal resistant and thermal conductive material.

The textured portion 107, 207 can be integral to the heatable surface 106, 206. Alternatively, the textured portion 107, 207 can be affixed to the hair styling device 100, 200 or heatable surface 106, 206 by any means, such as by chemical attachment with, for example, a high temperature adhesive such as a high temperature epoxy or organic silicon pressure-sensitive adhesive.

The textured portion 107, 207 can also be attached to the hair styling device 100, 200 or the heatable surface 106, 206 by physical attachment, casting, extrusion, solution deposition or lamination. Alternatively, the textured portion 107, 207 can be molded, co-molded or co-extruded with the hair styling device 100, 200 or heatable surface 106, 206.

Another embodiment comprises affixing the material containing the textured portion 107, 207 via a mechanical fastener such as pins, rivets, screws, and high strength magnets. An additional example comprises affixing the textured portion 107, 207 using tracks to slide the textured portion onto the hair styling device 100, 200, or clips to hold the textured portion 107, 207 against the heatable surface 106, 206.

In one embodiment, the textured portion 107, 207 can have an additional coating 118, 218, which can be made of any heat conducting and heat resistant material, such as described above for the textured portion 107, 207. The coating 118, 218 can be made into a thin sheet, for example from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters thick, and the sheet can then be used to coat the heatable surface 106, 206. Alternatively, the coating can be directly applied to the textured portion 107, 207 or affixed to the textured portion 107, 207 via chemical or mechanical attachment.

In one embodiment, substantially the entire heatable surface 106, 206 is textured, forming projections 108, 208 with recesses 110, 210 in between the projections 108, 208, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C and 5A-C. In one version, the projections 108, 208 are sufficiently close together so that hair having a diameter greater than about 0.005 millimeters cannot fit between the projections 108, 208. In one version, the recesses 110, 210 can be up to about 0.005 millimeters wide, or from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters wide.

In one version of the device, the recesses 110, 210 and projections 108, 208 of the textured portion 107, 207 can be spaced uniformly across the heatable surface 106, 206 with the projections 108, 208 set equidistant apart, and the recesses 110, 210 set equidistant apart, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2C, 5A and 5C. Alternatively, the recesses 110, 210 and projections 108, 208 of the textured portion 107, 207 are not uniformly spaced on the heatable surface 106, 206. For example, the projections 108, 208 in one area of a first textured portion 107, 207 can be closer together than areas of a second textured portion, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 5B. The projections can be of uniform height and width, or can be of varying sizes, with a range of from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters in height and width.

The projections 108, 208 can be formed by sanding, texturizing, or otherwise scoring the textured portion such as with a laser or acid to create an uneven surface. The projections 108, 208 can also be formed onto the surface of the textured portion 107, 207 such as, for example, by extrusion or molding. The projections 108, 208 can also comprise the weave of fabric.

In one embodiment, the projections 108, 208 on the textured portion 107, 207 are sufficiently close together that when the textured portion 107, 207 is wetted with water, the recesses 110, 210 between the projections 108, 208 are not wetted. Wetting is the ability of a liquid, such as water, to maintain contact with a solid surface when the liquid and the solid surface are brought together. Texturizing a surface modifies the contact, which can be measured by the contact angle between the solid surface and the liquid.

Wetting can be measured by dyne bottled solutions method, or with a commercial device, such as, for example the Surface Analyst™ (Brighton Technologies Group). To measure wetting, the contact angle between the solid surface and the liquid, such as a water molecule, can be determined. The contact angle provides an inverse measure of wettability. Surface wetting tension has varying degrees of contact angles ranging from zero to 180 degrees. As the tendency of a drop to spread out over a flat, solid surface increases, the contact angle decreases. A contact angle equal to zero degrees is indicative of perfect wetting of a solid surface. A contact angle greater than zero but less than 90 degrees is indicative of high wetting of a solid surface. A contact angle greater than or equal to 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees results in low wetting. In the case of low wetting, the fluid will minimize contact with the surface and form a compact liquid droplet. A contact angle equal to 180 degrees results in no wetting of the solid surface.

Accordingly, when reference is made to a surface that is not wetted, it is meant that the contact angle at 400 degrees Fahrenheit between deionized water and the surface is from 90 to 180 degrees. A commercial device for measuring contact angle is the Surface Analyst™ available from BTG Labs located in St. Bernard, Ohio.

In another embodiment, the textured portion 107, 207 has projections 108, 208 with recesses 110, 210 between the projections 108, 208, with the projections 108, 208 being spaced from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters apart. In another embodiment, the textured portion 107, 207 comprises projections 108, 208 with recesses 110, 210 between the projections 108, 208, where the projections 108, 208 are sufficiently close together so that hair having a diameter greater than 0.005 millimeters cannot fit between the projections 108, 208.

A hair styling device 100, 200 having a textured portion 107, 207 results in a combination of non-direct contact of hair with the hotter surfaces of the device, and direct contact of hair with the lower heat surfaces of the device, which results in a gentle indirect heat transfer from the heating surface and the hair heating surface and hair.

This indirect heating of the hair is beneficial to the user because the hair is not damaged as with conventional hair styling devices, resulting in a more hydrated hair, and smoother, less frizzy, shinier, and healthier looking hair than when hair is styled with conventional hair styling devices. In addition, when heat is applied to hair at a slower rate, less damage is done to the cuticle of the hair. Certain materials when used as the textured portion 107, 207 can also prevent frizz and static to the hair.

In use, the heatable surface 106 of the hair styling device 100 is heated by the heater 104. While the hair styling device 100 is in the open position, the user places the hair in between the first arm portion 114 and second arm portion 116. The hair styling device 100 is then moved to the closed position, and the user draws the hair through the first arm portion 114 and second arm portion 116, thereby styling the hair.

Alternatively, the heatable surface 206 of the hair styling device 200 is heated. The user places the hair between the heatable surface 206 and a clamping device 214. The user's hair is then wound around the heatable surface 206 and clamped against the heatable surface 206 by the clamping device 214 for a length of time, after which the hair is removed from the device, thereby styling the hair.

In addition to the size of the projections 108, 208, other forces, such as, for example, tension on the hair caused by being placed in and drawn through the device 100 prevent the hair from directly contacting the heatable surface 106, 206.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. The steps disclosed for the present methods, for example, are not intended to be limiting nor are they intended to indicate that each step is necessarily essential to the method, but instead are exemplary steps only. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of preferred embodiments contained in this disclosure. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair styling device consisting essentially of: (a) a body; (b) a first heatable surface on the body for heating and styling a user's hair, the first heatable surface comprising at least one textured portion comprising projections with recesses therebetween, wherein the projections are sufficiently close together that when the textured portion is wetted with water, the recesses are not wetted; and (c) a heater supported by the body for heating the heatable surface.
 2. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein substantially the entire first heatable surface is textured.
 3. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the projections are sufficiently close together so that hair having a diameter greater than about 0.005 millimeters cannot fit between the recesses of the projections.
 4. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the recesses are from about 0.005 millimeters wide as measured from the bottom of a first projection to the bottom of a second projection.
 5. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the recesses are from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters wide as measured from the middle of one projection to the middle of a second projection.
 6. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the recesses and projections are uniformly spaced on the first heatable surface.
 7. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the heatable surface comprises first and second textured portions, the projections of the first textured portion being closer together than the projections of the second textured portion.
 8. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the heatable surface comprises first and second textured portions, the projections of the first textured portion being of different size than the projections of the second textured portion.
 9. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the projections are about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters wide as measured from one side of the projection to opposite side of the projection.
 10. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the textured portion comprises a metal.
 11. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the first heatable surface further comprises a coating on the heatable surface.
 12. The hair styling device of claim 11, wherein the coating is a paint, urethane, lacquer, or polyphenylene sulfide.
 13. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the textured portion comprises mesh.
 14. The hair styling device of claim 1, further comprising a second heatable surface opposed to the first heatable surface on the body for heating and styling a user's hair, the second heatable surface comprising at least one textured portion comprising projections with recesses therebetween, wherein the projections are sufficiently close together that when the textured portion is wetted with water, the recesses are not wetted.
 15. A hair styling device consisting essentially of: (a) a body; (b) a first heatable surface on the body for heating and styling hair, the first heatable surface comprising at least one textured portion comprising projections with recesses therebetween, the projections being spaced from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters apart as measured from the middle of a first projection to the middle of a second projection; and (c) a heater supported by the body for heating the heatable surface.
 16. The hair styling device of claim 15, wherein the projections are from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters high as measured from the base of the projection to the top of the projection.
 17. The hair styling device of claim 15, wherein the projections are from about 0.005 millimeters high as measured from the base of the projection to the top of the projection to about 1.5 millimeters wide as measured from one side of the projection to opposite side of the projection.
 18. The hair styling device of claim 15, further comprising a second heatable surface on the body for heating and styling the hair, the second heatable surface comprising at least one textured portion comprising projections with recesses therebetween, the projections being spaced from about 0.005 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters apart as measured from the middle of one projection to the middle of a second projection.
 19. A hair styling device consisting essentially of: (a) a body; (b) a first heatable surface on the body for heating and styling hair, the first heatable surface comprising at least one textured portion comprising projections with recesses therebetween, wherein the projections are sufficiently close together so that hair having a diameter greater than 0.005 millimeters cannot fit between the projections; and (c) a heater supported by the body for heating the heatable surface.
 20. The hair styling device of claim 19, further comprising a second heatable surface on the body for heating and styling the hair, the second heatable surface comprising at least one textured portion comprising projections with recesses therebetween, wherein the projections are sufficiently close together so that hair having a diameter greater than 0.005 millimeters cannot fit between the projections.
 21. A hair styling device consisting essentially of: (a) a body; (b) a first heatable surface on the body for heating and styling hair, the first heatable surface comprising at least one textured portion comprising projections with recesses therebetween, wherein the textured portion comprises a fabric; (c) a second heatable surface on the body for heating and styling the hair, the second heatable surface comprising at least one textured portion comprising projections with recesses therebetween, wherein the textured portion comprises a fabric; and (d) a heater supported by the body for heating the heatable surface.
 22. The hair styling device of claim 21, wherein the fabric comprises silk.
 23. The hair styling device of claim 21, wherein the fabric is attached to the heatable surface chemically, thermally, or mechanically.
 24. The hair styling device of claim 21, comprising a coating on the surface of the fabric.
 25. A method to style a person's hair comprising the steps of: (a) activating the heater of the device of claim 1 to heat the first heatable surface; (b) grasping the device of claim 1; and (c) placing the person's hair on the at least one textured portion, thereby styling the person's hair. 